Pig Team

Richard joined the practice from Liverpool University in 1993 with an already well developed interest in pigs. For the past 10 years he has worked almost exclusively in the pig sector developing his interest in outdoor production, gilt breeding, health surveillance in the abattoir, and medicines. He currently sits on the NPA Allied industry Group Committee, British Health Scheme Steering Group and is a Director of the George Veterinary Group.

Fran is a dairy farmer’s son from Renfrewshire in Scotland. He qualified from Glasgow Vet School in June 1990 and started work at The George Veterinary Group in August of that year. Initially he worked as a mixed practitioner and then increasingly in the large animal department as the business became more specialised. Fran is a Director at The George Veterinary Group and has responsibility for the pig and farm animal departments.

His main interests lie in pig production systems and he provides an advisory service to clients with all types of pig breeding, rearing and finishing businesses predominately throughout the South and South West of England (from Cornwall to Staffordshire and Sussex to Leicestershire). He also advises pig businesses throughout Ireland.

Annie qualified from Glasgow University in 1997, and joined the George as a pig practitioner in August of that year. Her main areas of interest are farm health and welfare, and the improvement of pig fertility on farm. She has become heavily involved in the continuing development and education of farm workers and managers, performing a key role in on-farm training schemes. She has previously been President of the Pig Veterinary Society.

Alex qualified with Honours from the Royal Veterinary College in 2003 and joined the practice that same year. She devotes all of her time to pig health and production and was appointed Clinical Director here in August 2017. Her daily commitments cover all stages and types of production including routine and emergency work.

Other professional interests include delivering education programmes for stock people and biosecurity. Alex completed General Practitioner Certificate in Farm Animal Practice in 2006 and in 2011 passed the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Pig Medicine. She was awarded the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Diploma in Pig Medicine in 2016.

Roger joined us after being the principal pig vet at the Wood Veterinary Group in Gloucester. He has run the Gloucester Pig meeting for 35 years and is a well-respected practitioner and speaker, providing lectures for Universities and for the PVS John Walton days. Although Roger's main passion has been in dairy work he is one of the last true all-rounders; with an enthusiasm undimmed by age which has inspired many vets and clients.

Roger joined us as a consultant. Primarily he services his existing client base, as well as strengthening our team with a new "old head" among us.

Alice qualified from Edinburgh University in 2015. Her interest in pigs began at an early age, and really developed during employment at a large indoor breed to finish unit in Staffordshire throughout her gap year. On graduating she joined a practice in Norfolk as a mixed practitioner, very quickly deciding that pig medicine was where she wanted to concentrate her efforts, so transitioned to full time pig vet over the 15 months in East Anglia. She looked after a large range of pig clients over in the East, and looks forward to working with the farmers and pigs of the West!

Anne qualified from Leipzig University in Germany in 2005 and developed her interest in pigs while working with sows doing her doctor's degree at the Veterinary University of Hannover at the Institute of animal nutrition. Since then she focused on working with pigs receiving her German specialisation in swine in 2013. For the past ten years Anna worked mainly as a pig practitioner but also spent time working for the local veterinary office as well as for a pharmaceutical company in Germany.

Angie has worked for The George Veterinary Group for over 30 years in all areas of the Practice. She has been the Pig Practice co-ordinator for more than 20 years now.

Angie works from the main practice building in Malmesbury. She is responsible for the general day to day management of the pig office including organising farm visits, drug orders and processing feed prescriptions.

Maria's role is office-based and complements Angie's. She joined the practice in Oct 2013 and her skills as an audio typist are invaluable to everyone in the team. Between Maria and Andrea there is a full complement of administrative support to Angie and the busy practice.

Andrea started with the Pig Practice in December 2013. Her role in the team dovetails with Maria's, providing assistance to both clients and the veterinary team on the telephone or when they're in the office. Andrea lives locally and was already a client of the small animal practice when she saw the role advertised.